The end of the blog?

Allied moving lorry

 I have decided to leave Syracuse when I have the money, and possibly New York State. I just have no true connections here anymore. I just feel if I make a fresh start in a new city, I could start over. It may be just as hard to establish relationships with people who have their people as it is back home, but I won't have the baggage there, just the literal kind I have to unpack. The last time I moved house outside CNY, it wasn't my choice. Decades later, I would have to change doctors, pharmacies, and everything. It would be easier to get a job since they won't look at my past the same way they would here. I'm not getting younger and I'm not ready for an analyst. If I do leave the state, it would be hard to do the blog anymore unless I learn something second hand, but it would be the least of my problems since I have to get away from the cold weather one third of the year to a city and state with no real future, and people unwilling to take me seriously. I would like to come up with a doable new home and start buying new things before the next cold snap. My niece would have to tidy up and take in a lodger that can get on with our cats, who I will miss terribly, but I will have my own to take care of. This hasn't been an easy decade, century, or lifetime. I've thought about Florida, even if just for the winter like a pensioner, but I'm not even that old, mind, and I have to find a job that would let me go up and down the east coast. There are pros and cons to both states that we won't get into here. I've never flown only because of the cost and not aviophobia in my family. I also don't want the only way I'll ever fly is to have my ashes attached to a drone because that's too morbid, and cremation is for Hindus and Buddhists. I just don't want to wait until the next lifetime to have a better life, and these blogs have kept me busy, but behind every one of these sites is a real person with the same hang-ups as everyone else. Maybe this will pass and I won't go anywhere, or I will be ringing Allied, Mayflower or Sams and filling up moving boxes.

Weis Gas Rewards in Southern Tier

 

Former Giant store in Binghamton (AI edit; CVS now closed)

    With the loss of Price Chopper and Market 32's FuelAdvantage after nearly two decades, Sunoco stations in the Southern Tier and Northeast Pennsylvania will have less business unless they are willing to switch to a competitors own version, and one that is more dominant in the area anyway. Weis Markets have had a monopoly in Broome County alone since buying Giant Markets from the Axel family in 2009. So now it only makes sense if these franchises are willing to participate in Weis Gas Rewards. Even when I last went to the area over the festive period, I saw that two stations had one or the other and were just several miles apart, but never thought that the one that I know could be gone months later. The Elmira store further into Twin Tiers was opened before the Giant deal, and is the only one in the state today not part of that lot or to have its own Gas-'n'-Go station. If Weis bought the former P&C/Tops/Grand Union in Owego, then the Sunoco at the Onvo service station off of I-86 & NY 17 in Nichols would likely join the programme. In Weis's home state, it's a bit more sporadic until you get further towards Susquehanna Valley, where the chain are based. Price Chopper have stores all the way to Lackawanna and Wyoming Valleys and the Poconos, even though one in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre suburb of Taylor had closed recently, since Price Chopper aren't as mega in Pennsylvania, I guess.
    Here are where Sunoco should accept Weis Gas Rewards (if an area Sunoco isn't listed, they either have it already or it's just not right near Binghamton):

Binghamton (east side) - NY 7

Binghamton (near downtown) - NY 17C

Endwell/Endicott - 3225 E Main St

Friendsville, PA - PA 267 (although Weis aren't even in Susquehanna County)

Nichols - Onvo, CR 509 (only if Weis open in Owego, although this is technically between the two)

Homesense

HomeSense store in Willimantic, CT

JJBers from Willimantic, Connecticut, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

 HomeSense are part of the TJX conglomerate, even though they're originally from the boys' area. They have yet to come to mine. They are a bit different from US sister chain HomeGoods, which either stand alone or are in a combo with Marshalls. Also had to even out the number of posts again and I've been meaning to do this one for a period, so time to make some sense of this and bring it closer to home without too much overlap with TJ Maxx either. I'm still waiting on Sierra, but we've covered them earlier. Might just be mainly CNY or North Country as usual, but I can always just add on, of course.

Fayetteville - NY 5 & N Burdick St, Towne Center; former JoAnn Fabrics

Clay - NY 31, Marketfair North; former JoAnn Fabrics

Cortland - NY 281; former Big Lots or kmart

Syracuse - Destiny USA; former JCPenney, second floor

New Hartford - NY 5 & 5A, Sangertown Square; former Hess's/Kaufmanns/Macys

Auburn - NY 5 & US 20, Fingerlakes Mall; former Sears

Watertown - NY 3, Salmon Run Mall; former Christmas Tree Shops

Leader Drugs

Church Leader Drugs in East Syracuse (AI replica)

 Leader Drugs is a brand found at and consortium of indie drug stores. I remember it from the old days, yet I just discovered that they are alive and well today at a few thousand mom and pop pharmacies across the country. This may be a bit tricky to find past or present affiliates in New York or any other state, yet it was and to this day is what you'd find at a local chemist when their national competitors are struggling (David and Goliath again). I'll just show you a number of yesterday and todays* Leader Drug Stores in CNY and WNY that I can remember (near me anyway) or dig up (just need enough to post).

Oswego - Wayne Drugs; NY 104 (still going strong, and where I learnt that Leader lives)*

Fulton - Wayne Drugs; E 1st St; sold to Kinney, which opened new store around the corner; now vacant

Syracuse (downtown) - Harrison Center Pharmacy/G&L/Kress (successor to classic north side store); Almond, Harrison & E Adams Sts; later sold to Kinney; now Upstate Medical Offices

Syracuse (south side) - Figs & Olives Pharmacy; NY 173 & E Brighton Ave; sold to Kinney, which opened new store across the street; demolished for Tim Hortons, which is now Dunkin'

North Syracuse - US 11; now Sammys NYC Deli and Grill

Manlius - Harveys Pharmacy; NY 92 (later Eckerd and Rite Aid, then Unplugged Gaming, now Dollar General)

Syracuse (east side/foot of SU Hill) - Harveys Drugs; NY 92 (same owners as above; now cornershop)

Syracuse (east side/near SU southeast campus) - Drumlins Pharmacy?; Skytop Plaza (later switched to Fays Cornerdrug; became Eckerd and Rite Aid; now Walgreens)

Henrietta - NY 15; now Brighton Health Center (Strong Ties URMC)

Liverpool/Bridgeport/Phoenix/Tully - Tri-R Drugs? (see previous post)

Buffalo (present) - Kents Leader Drug; NY 354*

Buffalo (past) - Bergs Leader Drug; 1540 Genesee St (now vacant lot)

Depew - Save Rite; NY 78 & US 20 ? (later Fays; TBD since I just don't know Erie County that well myself)

Syracuse (north side) - Kress Drugs; Butternut & Park Sts; late Victorian building survived well into 1990s; business moved to site off I-81 (soon to be BL-81); now demolished

New York (Midtown Manhattan) - 235 E 22nd St (even found a downstate one)*

*Leaders own site doesn't list their locations at this time, making it a wild goose chase to find them.

Tri-R Drugs

Screenshot from old commercial from the '80s

 Tri-R Drugs were a small local chain serving three counties. Kinney Drugs bought them out by the '90s and only one of these is still in business at its original location. Not sure if they were Rexall like Kinney were, Good Neighbor, or even Leader (that will be the next post). You never know what you can find.

Liverpool - CR 57; now Kinney Drugs

Phoenix - CR 57 & 57A; TBD

Bridgeport - NY 31 & 298; TBD

Tully - US 11 & NY 80; now vacant

Price Chopper and Market 32 Bonus Points Retired?

Early Price Chopper store back in the mid-'70s

Delaware Ave store in Albany in the late '70s

 I have discovered in the past few weeks that Price Chopper and Market 32 seemed to have phased out their Bonus Points scheme. You can still earn FuelAdvantedge points with online offers, the occasional game, buying organic, or double points now and then. I usually only go to Price Chopper when Tops pause their own points for two weeks' time every other month. Even though they're sister stores now, both programmes started separately under different ownership; Tops when they were owned by Ahold, and it remained after they spun off. Theirs is easier to earn by comparison, yet the Centro pass deal is exclusive to Syracuse, and gift cards with four different chains is used where Tops Xpress is currently  unavailable. Meanwhile, Price Chopper and Market 32 have their points for redemption at participating Sunocos (even those not right near a store, while others have closed or just become other chains or indie since). One may even consider the bonus points deals or the whole promotion another example of so-called "spaving", where you're spending more than you're saving. Even if other chains without such a plan or even a card get more people, it may seem like a drop in the ocean these days as recent events have affected prices at the pump and beyond. Before all of this, I couldn't always get others to use these points, yet I would think they'd kill for it if they don't go to either Northeast chain. It's also not always convenient for me to go to Price Chopper on either side of town, while Tops are just around the corner or right in the suburbs. The mid-Hudson Valley also has both within driving distance, which was already covered here. I would just stick to Tops if they didn't take off earning for a period. Not everyone can go to more than one place. Most are lucky to have the one. Every place does has its advantages.
 If Market 32 and Price Chopper have decided to sunset Bonus Points or just have them on occasion, I'll still continue to come as well as look for the latest deals each month on the app. All is not lost. It'll just take a little longer again to get to a minimum number of points that will shave off a few pennies at the pump for whomever takes up the offer, even if it totals up to just over a dollar, which they may think is twopence in this economy, but at least I tried. At least I can usually keep the other places points for my own, and when I ever get my driving licence in future, I shall have both places at my disposal, or will I?

UPDATE (23/6/26): I go to Western Lights to see if any bonus points items still exist, and the only two things that come up are tubs of cream cheese and a large one of dishwasher detergent. They may just be phased out gradually or something for the diehards to find. Also, a bit less variety on some certain other things I was looking for, but I didn't have time to make two stops and wanted to get home before I got carried away again. Also can't let the side down, like I always say. I could always go again later.
  So not to have to start a whole new post and have too much on this chain, Market Bistro in Latham is now just Market 32. It was supposed to emulate that other chain (so not to get ones hopes up), but they decided to just have it under the name more common in the home territory. It's still uncertain if all Price Choppers will convert to the Market 32 name, even with an unrelated chain in the nations midsection and the economy the way that it is right now. No one else could ever be called Market 32, of course.

UPDATE (24/7/26): The plot thickens. If not getting bonus points isn't bad enough, it's where to use them. After two decades, Price Chopper and Market 32 have decided not to renew their contract with Sunoco anymore. FuelAdvantedge is over as of 1 August, unless they decide to partner with another chain, but there aren't one of the same calibre that could offer the same not already doing something of their own or with another chain. Even with all the rises these days, customers preferred to redeem their points at the till instead, including myself, since I couldn't get anyone to use them anymore anyway (the last person I asked has an electric car and slated Big Oil to put it that way). Just as well. You can also donate, get gift cards or magazine subscriptions. All is not lost. Tops' programme is a separate animal and staying put. This is a game changer. In the Southern Tier and Northeast Pennsylvania, it'll be Weis Markets that have the deal with Sunoco (if not their own stations). Once I drive myself, when I am going to Market 32 if it ever has that name west of Rome, I wonder if I'd even go to Sunoco now that the incentive is gone. I can get picky, and we'll just have to find other ways to save at the pump in these trying times.

Dunk & Bright Furniture

AI version of the original Dunk & Bright Furniture

 After a month without any new ideas, I decided to cover Dunk & Bright Furniture (O'Dunk & O'Bright during St Patricks season to reflect the founders' Irish roots). The original store on S Salina St and E Bright Ave on Syracuse's south side will be closing in the coming weeks. Many people assume the business as a whole is coming to an end, not realising that a new store has opened in the former Great Northern Mall in Clay where Sibleys, Kaufmanns and Macys had been. To boot, Dunk & Bright have gone outside CNY to the Rochester area and opened in South Town Plaza on Jefferson Road (NY 252) in Henrietta, where Burlington, kmart, Freddys, and PriceRite used to be. It's new to most people there, and they're pessimistic about another furniture store there, with Marketplace Mall down the road being closed, and brick and mortar retail in general facing decline in recent years between online dominance and the economy. It's not uncommon to fear the unfamiliar. Hometown rival Raymour & Flanigan are in WNY and have expanded across the eastern seaboard, so it can be done. Dunk & Bright might just stick to the two stores at this stage. I don't think they want to be a big chain like that.
 I've only gone to the flagship once decades ago. It seemed to take time to look at everything, being the largest furniture store in the whole state, tucked into a part of town that now doesn't have as much money. With Dunk & Bright entering their 100th year, it had opened in a more innocent time. The fire department are said to be buying some of the building. Staff and remaining stock will be moved up the new I-81 (still I-481 for now) and NY 481 to the new store, where the mall is being done up in the wake of Microns building site just a few miles away. It's a slam Dunk and the future looks Bright for one of the areas oldest local businesses. There's also outlet store A. Bright Furniture in Westvale Plaza, which had moved several blocks from Wegmans Plaza on Onondaga Blvd from the former Chase-Pitkin and Big Lots turned Goodwill. So much for Goldbergs and Besdins (one from before my time I looked up).

AI version of store's early days nearly a century ago

Shaws

Shaws in Sturbridge, MA in the autumn

JJBers from Willimantic, Connecticut, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

 With Grand Unions portfolio down to a handful, their one store outside New York is in Rutland, VT. It could be next to go, and it would most likely go to Shaws so it could stay union, as I pointed out in a previous post. Across Lake Champlain is a bigger challenge, with a closed store in Warrensburg and a remaining one in Peru close to Plattsburgh, Burlington, and the border. Shaws could start to expand a little west of New England. Albertsons are no stranger to New York, having owned Save-a-Lot and Acme, still in the Tri-State, but otherwise left Upstate decades ago, while Supervalu had been here themselves as well as with Shop 'n Save in WNY and the chains acquired through the merger with Albertsons. I've gone to Jewel-Osco and Dominicks in Chicago, Star Market in Boston, and Shoppers near Washington. Here are where Shaws could go (*still Grand Union for right now):

Peru - US 9*; former Tops

Rutland, VT - US 4*; former Tops

Albany - NY 5; former Price Chopper; Westgate Shopping Ctr

Warrensburg - US 9; former Tops and Grand Union (pictured below)

Troy (Lansingburgh) - US 4; former Price Chopper

Slingerlands - NY 85; former ShopRite

AI of future Warrensburg Shaws (CoPilot)

The Return of Rite Aid

 

Former Canastota store with logo added

    Just when you thought Rite Aid were dead and gone, it turns out they are an online-only entity, now under new management. I got a tip on Facebook, and they now will fill prescriptions virtually, and provide health-care information. Instead of new stores, they have partnered with over two-thousand labs across the country. However, the site is hard to manoeuvre and I can only get jab labs in Scranton, PA, where the original chain began as Thrift D Drugs. I did see Quest Diagnostics, however; my closest one of which is near where Rite Aid used to be blocks from home, but at Quests old location a mile away, they couldn't accommodate my particular needs, so I go to a competitor for that instead. As for scripts, Rite Aid said you could look for your old one from a couple years ago if it wasn't binned, or just ring your new chemist to transfer it  once Rite Aid are set up to be a ghost pharmacy, if you like, competing with Amazon, Express Scripts, and Rex MD. While it can be convenient for both busy people and those who can't get out too much or at all, the post is not always convenient or safe, and it's just part of a growing trend of shifting business online. Rite Aid scripts were eventually acquired by nearby area  Walgreens, CVS/pharmacy (if not through Target), or indies, while customers could simply choose to move them to another chain, online, or a local pharmacy in their area. These competitors would have signs saying they welcome Rite Aid customers either way so they have a new place to pick up meds.
    By the time Rite Aid enter their sixty-fifth year this fall, everything should be in place. Like other shuttered chains that came back as e-tailers like Wards, it's just not the Rite Aid that we grew up with.

UFCW Local One

The now-closed Grand Union in Freedom Plaza in Rome

FotoPhest, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (my username there)

    Business closings and labor disputes continue to make the news in this uncertain economy. I've covered the new decline of Grand Union, and now I can count the number of stores on just one hand. ShopRites second exit from the Capital Region a few years back led to Market 32 buying four out of five of those stores. The bigger challenge is finding replacements for Grand Union in other parts of the state since they already left the immediate Albany area a generation ago, with rural locations going to Tops, and a few switching back after the merger with Price Chopper. What's more elusive is getting a chain or two that are affiliated with UFCW. For much of Upstate, UFCW Local One, based in Oriskany out in the Mohawk Valley, are the regional bureau. ShopRite, Tops, Stop & Shop, indie Chanatrys in Utica, P&C (when I was there and with the two left now) and Grand Union (the name refers to the country) are union shops. Some of them have past and present sister chains that are not union, like Price Chopper/ Market 32. To think the Capital District of all places no longer has one that is. Trader Joes employees started their own, but it's been more uphill for them. If Grand Union in Rutland, VT were next to leave, Shaws could get it since it's a smaller state, as I pointed out earlier. Shaws don't operate west of New England, however, but maybe they could expand, and it could be a future post since Albertsons were never in New York themselves, yet were part of Supervalu, which used to own Save-a-Lot and had a store in Voorheesville in rural Albany County in the '80s.

    In some small towns, it may be easier for a non-union chain like ALDI or Weis to take over the vacancy. It's hard enough to get anyone to do so, since they can sit empty for even decades. UFCW members should be able to have their benefits protected since not everyone can move when they want to stay in their field and they get their cards (I prefer that term to pink slip).

 

Rural King

The Bushranger, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

 I've heard of Rural King on Facebook recently, and I assumed they only opened in small towns, yet they compete more with Tractor Supply and CountryMax, which are in my area. Rural King are finally coming to New York with a store in Twin Tiers according to NBC 18 WETM, which led to this post. This opens the door to more locations by starting near the state line. Since some other chains are harder to replace with their own sort, Rural King might take over these properties as they did in Chemung County. Most of the country is near some form of countryside, even in bigger areas, so it shouldn't be too hard to come up with new locations like with the rest.

Elmira - S Main St; former Tops (confirmed)

Binghamton - US 11; former Giant/Grand Union/Weis

Sidney - former Great American BK5

Greene - former Great American BK5

Cortland - former Big Lots; NY 281

Auburn - former Sears, Fingerlakes Mall; US 20 & NY 5

Syracuse - former P&C/Tops, Westvale Plaza; NY 5

Oneida - former Foodtown; NY 365A

New Hartford - former Herb Phillipsons; New Hartford Shopping Ctr

Rome - former P&C/Tops/Grand Union, Freedom Plaza; NY 46 & 49

Albany (Colonie) - former Barnes & Noble/ShopRite; Wolf Rd

Schenectady - former Grand Union/ALDI; NY 5 & 7

Gloversville - former Price Chopper; N Main St

Watertown - former P&C/Tops/Grand Union; US 11

Fulton - former kmart, River Glen Plaza; NY 481

Oswego - NY 104

Rochester (Henrietta) - former Freddys/PriceRite, SouthTown Plaza; NY 252

Buffalo (Amherst) - former Best Buy, NY 78

Maplewood Bar & Grill

AI of Maplewood Bar & Grill in Mattydale Plaza

 Maplewood Inn started as an indie hotel on 7th North St in Liverpool after Days Inn had moved a mile away, in a part of town with lodging off of I-81 and the Thruway with proximity to the airport. Then it became a franchise of Holiday Inn Express after the full-fledged one had left the once-again Randolph House on Electronics Pkwy (previously Sheraton, later Ramada, and now sister chain Wyndham) and the later original Comfort Inn on Buckley Road (previously covered). Either corporate or the franchise shut down the restaurant section over a year ago. Not too far away in Mattydale, the flagship Zebb's in the former kmart Plaza on Brewerton Road (US 11) had closed, so the owners bought it and we're still waiting for it to open. Mattydale, Hinsdale, Pitcher Hill and Northern Lights Plaza have all fallen into decline in recent years like many part of the country as far as business goes. The ongoing I-81 Project has also caused concern for the hotel owners. The economy overall worries everyone these days.
 I went to the original Maplewood once for Halloween a few years ago when looking for somewhere to go on the night (we'll cover that later before then). I've eaten at Zebb's on occasion over the years. That chain once stretched from Rochester to the Mohawk Valley. There isn't much left in that plaza, even with their neighbor across the street making an effort to prove presenter Dave Portnoy wrong. He must have slated Mattydale Plaza as well if he bothered to look at that, but much of these places were nice once. As for Maplewood, their menu is quite good, and they focus more on local artists like Ronnie Leigh, John McConnell and Tom Chick (seen a couple of them at other places, not sure if two have played the old guard, and I don't typically or specifically see area performers like I would for national artists). My idea is when they have events for specific holidays and annual traditions. After three recent  attempts at Mardi Gras, only to find it's not like the other holiday as in the South with a Cajun twist, maybe the end of Carnival could have some resemblance to Orleans and Jefferson Parishes next year, and a Zydeco, Dr John type (he did OCC for Jazz Fest), or other band could play (this should be on the sister blog). I'll have to go through the year like Stevie Wonder to determine which ones would work. St Valentines Day, then Fat Tuesday if not the same day, St Patricks Day (perfect for the local), also an Easter Sunday buffet and community-focused get-together for those of us with nowhere else to go or no one to go with), Adult Prom (that was inevitable, but it's big enough from what I remember as Zebb's), Fourth of July with this years milestone, even my birthday since some people hold a public birthday bash, Labor Day if that's a thing for a show, the H-word, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Eve. Getting there by bus at nights and weekends may be an issue. Open Jam and something else are going to be a regular occurrence. It's still early days just finishing up everything. I really would like some small-time yet international names to come here once in a while without pushing out CNY ones like Jess Novak, Prof Mark Zane (his day job is at OCC), and Paul Davie (seen them too). I love supporting small and local business, even if I go to see hometown people per se to a lesser extent. I'm looking forward to the new Maplewood Bar & Grill and their continued success in the future.

Grand Union: Not Again?

Colourised by AI photo of Grand Union in West Islip, 8/4/79

 It's been five years' time since the merger of Tops and Price Chopper/Market 32, which had led to several overlapping locations in small towns to be sold to C&S Wholesale Grocers, who revived the Grand Union name, yet this past year, old habits die hard, while recent events make it difficult to operate, even in outlying rural communities with little competition, since even there, some residents can have a transportation barrier, such as the over-60s, disabled, low-wage earners, and others on a limited income. The Owego store was the first of the new generation to close last year, with ALDI opening nearby to boot. Now the stores in Norwich, Cooperstown, and Watertown are next. Chenango County has had no proper public transport for over a years time, so the authorities are scrambling to help those who can't get to the outskirts of town while waiting for new bus service to even occur. Baseball country also has a local place, as does Peru in Champlain Valley, trying to be Davids if all the Goliaths are slain, as it were. Jefferson County has more options by comparison, yet between having something close at hand and even finding another union chain, this is happening coast to coast, and with Grand Union, you know how things happen in threes. There have even been some rumors in Cortland on Facebook, and that's the largest and nicest one I've seen of the current chain. The old guard Grand Union had dealt with the economy of that time, mismanagement, debt, administration, embezzlement, liquidation, what-have-you. The Enron of supermarkets! (Both companies were on the way out around the same time to boot.) While the new ones are dealing with different challenges, it does make me want to get back to one of the few I can reach because it does worry me and these communities. There isn't that much time left.
    Tops could return to Cortland, Watertown, Rome, Warrensburg, Peru, and Saranac Lake if things take a turn for the worse all over again since these stores either have enough competition or are far enough from a Price Chopper or Market 32 now that it's been long enough since they were told to spin off, yet even the Liverpool one closed with Tops just up the road. As for Grand Union, it'll be hard to find a new chain tied to UFCW (Local One for much of Upstate NY, as Rome had been the de facto flagship, but that would now be in Sherrill several miles away), or you'll be lucky to get anything at this stage these days. Otsego County could even wind up with ALDI since it's the one place where the two don't compete (Oneonta is across the county down the road). The sole non-NY store in Rutland, VT might sell to Albertsons' Shaws or Star Market (pro-union and job-saving Feel the Bern would make sure).
    It's not quite the Grand Union that I grew up with, but one closure of any place is one too many. All that's left I can count on one hand. It's just sad that it's come to all this once more. More as this story further develops.

Tully's Good Times

Better AI of Fayetteville Tullys

 Tully's Good Times are known for their chicken tenders and sports display, with locations throughout Central and Western New York and Northeastern Pennsylvania. Some CNY locations were previously the Ground Round (Liverpool and possibly Fairmount), Uno's Pizzeria and Grill (Fayetteville, pictured), and Friendlys (Tullys Tenders in Oswego). The last post led me to take it further with Tullys. While two on the list have been confirmed by the chain as far as them wanting to open them, they're in the same boat as for the rest the way we do things around here. The same family also own CopperTop Tavern, which only have a few locations, while having closed Good Buddy's Pub in Fairmount up W Genesee St from that Tullys, where TJs Big Boy and IHOP used to be and is now Second Chance Diner, which in turn, moved in from Camillus, but more on that another day. In Liverpool, Tullys Tenders have been looking to build on NY 31 between CR 57 and NY 481. Microns construction may have prompted that of the truncated version of the chain that is already on NY 104 after going up the previous highway. Originally from Batavia, the chain are now based in East Syracuse, and the east side location is the de facto flagship. Someone on Facebook had brought up one in the Mohawk Valley that is also in the works, akin to the one shown. As for the rest of the region, I'll just have to look around the region for other closed restaurants that can be done up as usual, or even just built from the ground up, if that. Now I must go back at least once a month for lunch now that they gave me a punch card to draw me in.

Liverpool (Clay/Bayberry) - NY 31, build from scratch (no pun intended); Tullys Tenders (confirmed)

New Hartford - CR 21, former Unos/Outback Steakhouse?; Orchard Plaza (plans confirmed for new location in that area)

Cortland - NY 281 & 222; former Eckerd/Rite Aid (since another pharmacy is unlikely)

Ithaca - NY 13, 34 & 96; former Burger King (building could be demolished since it's a state)

Oneida - NY 5; former KFC? (could be too small, so may also be replaced by original building site)

Horseheads - CR 35 & 75; Arnot Mall (I don't know Twin Tiers well enough to think of another spot)

Auburn - NY 5 & US 20; Fingerlakes Mall (even Cayuga County is tight on space along that corridor)

Advocates, Incorporated: Dine for Dollars

Fayetteville Tullys AI made from Unos

 Every month, Advocates Incorporated, a non-profit organisation that I've been involved with for the past couple years, partner with a different restaurant in Onondaga County, either a local business or the franchise of a regional or national chain, where if you mention the promotion or show it to them on your phone or tablet, the restaurant will usually match 20% of proceeds that are donated back to Advocates. They've worked with indies like King Davids, Home Run Pub and Stingers Pizza Pub; regional chains like diBellas, Tullys and Friendlys; and national ones such as Panera, IHOP, Red Robin (we've done two locations to get both sides of the county), and Texas Roadhouse (Clay, not deWitt). Tullys only want old school print, so you'd have to do it at home or work if possible, or go to the library or shipping place (I had to around the corner at the last minute after learning the hard way), yet they also do the same for our star players other cause, the local theatre company Front Row Players (last time, they were neck and neck). For me, if something doesn't get on with my stomach or budget, or is located too far for me to get to at that stage, then I just don't need to every month. We're not the Bob Geldof and Midge Ure (Band Aid) of Advocates, of course. We're just two complicated artists trying to find time for a coffee, mind (we eventually did, but that's a story for another day). Do check both NGOs' sites and socials for more information (FRP may only do this once or twice a year, and is otherwise unrelated to the monthly appeal). Is likely just tax deductible for the business, not the customer, yet it would be more relevant coming from a local place (you might know how that goes).

Special thanks Nicholas Courgi.